Sponge rubber filler for shoes



y 1966 F. M. GILKERSON 3,252,231

SPONGE RUBBER FILLER FOR SHOES Filed Jan. 7, 1965 /A/VE/ /TOR: FRANCISM. GILKERSON) HTTOENEKS United States Patent 3,252,231 SPONGE RUBBERFILLER FOR SHOES Francis M. Gilkerson, 5029 N. Lake Drive, Milwaukee,Wis. Filed Jan. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 423,948 4 Claims. (Cl. 362.5)

The present invention relates generally to the shoe art, and moreparticularly to novel self-leveling bottom filler construction forshoes.

In most shoe factories, bottom filling is considered as a relativelyunimportant part of the shoe making process. However, there are few, ifany, operations that can do affect the wear and comfort of a shoe morethan this simple operation of properly filling the cavity created by theinseam channel andridge, or the lasted over upper of the flat lastedshoe.

Inasmuch as bottom cavity of a shoe can and does vary in depth due toinaccurate inseam trimming or the thickness of upper and liningmaterials Within the accepted tolerances of the shoe making art, thebottom filler should be adjustable within these tolerances.

Present fillers, especially those made from sheet materials such assponge and foam rubber, have the ability to be compressed in the shoemaking process, but have a tendency to spring back to their originalthickness when the last is removed on the completion of the shoe makingprocess. This springing back into the original thickness in many caseswill cause the insole to be forced upward into the shoe, causing theshoe to lose part of its capacity and make one shoe tighter than theother. If this occurs with a very light or thin insole, the result is .aburning sensation to the bottom of the foot when the shoe is being worn.Often, in a pair of shoes, one shoe will be very comfortable while theother will be too uncomfortable to be worn.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a shoe filler withsufiicient self-leveling capacity to properly fill the bottom cavity ofwelt or flat lasted shoes without creating the possibility of having theinsole settle and become rough or lumpy because of too little filler orhaving the insole buckle upward when the last is removed from the shoebecause the filler is too thick for the cavity. The self-leveling fillerdescribed herein can, and will, eliminate the above-mentioned conditionsbecause the filler will adjust within its own dimension to the allowablevariations in the shoe making process.

The present self-leveling bottom filler is designed to have a shapedetermining and shape retaining layer having one side flat to fit theoutsole of the shoe, the opposite side having a series of raisedprojections separated by grooves or channels, these channels or groovesbeing of sufficient widthand depth between the ridges so that the ridgescannot be compressedenough to close the channels. Therefore, the ridgecan be compressed if the cavity varies from the desired thickness ordepth within the tolerance of the art, thus preventing the insolefrom-being forced up into the choe when the last is removed. At the sametime, the ridges are sufiiciently high to keep" the insole from beingforced into a compressed lumpy condition during wear.

Hence, a general object of the present invention is to provide aself-leveling bottom filler for shoes having the desirablecharacteristics just stated in the preceding paragraph.

Another object is to provide a self-leveling bottom filler which isefiectively comfortable for the normal life of the shoe.

The foregoing and other .objects and advantages are apparent from thefollowing description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a precut or formed self-leveling bottomfiller for the forepart of a shoe constr-ucted in accordance with theteachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical crosssectional view takenon substantially the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a conventional insole;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view through theforepart of a welt shoe illustrating the present filler between outsoleand insole;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of an insole having air holes; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 including the insole of FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, inFIGURES 1 and 2 there is shown a filler member 10 constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention. The fillermember 10 is illustrated formed for the forepart of a shoe, but it mayextend the full length of a shoe. The filler member 10 is of spongerubber, or other suitable material, and includes alternatinglongitudinal ridges 12 and channels 14. The ridges 12 and the channels14 are each substantially an eighth to a quarter of an inch in width,although this spacing need not be the same, an important point beingthat the channels or grooves 14 should be wide enough to permitdepression of the bordering ridges 12 Without complete closure of thechannels 14. Preferably, the ridges 12 and channels 14 extend generallylongitudinally of the filler member 10 and of a shoe, but they may liein other directions, as transversely, if greater .flexibility isdesired.

In FIGURE 4, the filler member 10 is shown as part of a welt shoe,FIGURE 4 being a transverse cross-section through the forepart or vampof the shoe. As is clear and well known in the shoe industry, the-fillermember 10 is disposed on the upper surface of an out-sole 16 and beneaththe lower surface of an insole 18. Hence, the lower surface 20 of thefiller member 10 is substantially flat. A lining 22, the vamp portion 24of an upper, a welt 26 and stitching 28 complete the illustrated portionof the shoe.

It will be noted that the ridges 12 will spread slightly under pressurefrom the insole 18 should the space between the insole 18 and outsole 16be less than the thickness or depth of the ridges 12, rather than pushthe insole 18 upwardly into an undesirable bulge. The tolerances ofmanufacture of shoes will result in this shall-ow depth from time totime. However, the ridges 12 are of sufificient height above the bottomsof the grooves or channels 14 to permit this slight depression and.allow for further depression in use of the shoe by a wearer withoutfilling up the channels 14 and without, in effect or actually, assuminga compressed, lumpy condition during wear. Sponge rubber, foam rubber,or the like, will return to the original shape repeatedly over alongperiod of time.

In FIGURES 5 and 6, the insole 18' includes apertures 30 which permitair to pass into the channels 14 of the filler member 10. In Walking, amild bellows action sets up, which is elfective in cooling the feet anddrying moist socks or stockings.

It is apparent that there has been provided a self-leveling bottomfiller construction for shoes which fulfills the objects and advantagessought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawing have been given by way of Jr illustration andexample. It is also to be understood that changes in form of theelements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalentelements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, arecontemplated as within the scope of the present invention which islimited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is: v

i 1. A self-leveling resilient bottom filler for shoes comprising ashape retaining layer fiat on one side, the opposite side having aseries of alternate ridges and grooves extending substantially the fulllength of the filler, said grooves being deep enough and wide enough toallow the ridges to be compressed in substantial part thereint-o withoutclosing the same, said ridges being of substantially the same height.

2. In combination, a shoe comprisingan outsole, an insole, an upper, anda bottom filler member between said insole and outsole, said bottomfiller member being of resilient material and including spacedprojections extending substantially the full length of the filler andyieldingly supporting said insole, said projections being ofsubstantially the same height and being spaced apart sufiiciently toprevent assumption of a compressed lumpy relation during wear of theshoe.

3. In combination, a shoe comprising an outsole, an insole, an upper,and a resilient bottom filler member, said insole having spacedapertures therein, said filler member having spaced ridges engaging saidinsole and channels between said ridges, some apertures in said insolebeing disposed over said channels so that air enters said channels, saidridges yielding and returning to supporting form in wear of :the shoe toeffect va bellows action in respect to drawing air into and expelling itfrom said channels.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which the channels are suflicientlywide to prevent compressed ridges from wholly closing the same.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,785,410 12/1930Gilkerson 36-30 X 2,347,207 4/ 1944 Mar-golin 363 2,405,224 8/1946Margolin 3630 2,546,296 3/1951 'Braun 36-30 X 3,125,816 3/1964 Gartner362.5

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

1. A SELF-LEVELING RESILIENT BOTTOM FILLER FOR SHOES COMPRISING A SHAPERETAINING LAYER FLAT ON ONE SIDE, THE OPPOSITE SIDE HAVING A SERIES OFALTERNATE RIDGES AND GROOVES EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH OFTHE FILLER, SAID GROOVES BEING DEEP ENOUGH AND WIDE ENOUGH TO ALLOW THERIDGES TO BE COMPRESSED IN SUBSTANTIAL PART THEREINTO WITHOUT CLOSINGTHE SAME, SAID RIDGES BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME HEIGHT.